Skull caps are fitted, peakless, brimless caps worn for religious and secular reasons. Orthodox Jewish men wear a kippah as a symbol of humility and a reminder of God’s presence. Catholic clergy wear a zucchetto, and many Muslim men wear a taqiyah. Skull caps are also worn for warmth and fashion.
A skull cap is a fitted, peakless, brimless cap, usually made of cloth or leather. Unlike most caps and hats, skull caps are often worn both indoors and outdoors. The term “skull cap” is most often used to refer to a kippah worn for religious reasons, but the term also applies to a wide variety of headgear worn for religious and secular purposes in cultures around the world. .
Traditionally, Orthodox Jewish men wear a skull cap called a kippah or yarmulke at all times as a symbol of humility and as what they see as a reminder of God’s constant presence. Kippahs are also often worn by Conservative and Reform Jews in religious contexts, such as during prayer or inside a synagogue, and in these branches of Judaism they are sometimes worn by both women and men. Many kippahs are smaller than other types of headgear, sitting perched on the crown of the skull rather than covering the entire head. The materials, color, and size of the kippah can vary, and different styles are often associated with different religious and political movements.
Skull caps are also prominent in other religious traditions. Members of the clergy of the Catholic Church often wear a skull cap called a zucchetto, especially at the upper levels of the Church hierarchy. The color of the zucchetto depends on the rank of the user; priests wear black zucchettos, bishops wear purple, cardinals wear red, and the pope wears white. Many Muslim men wear a skull cap, called a taqiyah in Arabic, which can be worn alone or under a turban or scarf. Many Muslim regions and nations have their own style of skull cap, such as the Pakistani topi.
Skull caps are also widely worn for purely secular reasons. Skull caps called gorros, tuques, toques, or stocking caps are often worn during cold weather in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States. Its close fit to the wearer’s head prevents heat loss and keeps the wearer warm. “Beanie” may also refer to a type of knitted or crocheted skull cap, usually without a brim, commonly worn by children in the 19th and early 20th centuries. A novelty variant with a propeller attached to the top of the cap, called a propeller cap, is often associated with members of geek subcultures such as science fiction fans and computer programmers.
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